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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Dagogo Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomasdagogo02@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 13:11:42 -0700
Subject: Get Back To Me For More detail !!!
Attn:
The circumstances surrounding the death of the of my client has put me in a very difficult situation even as I sending this mail to you.
Before I procceed, my name is Barrister Dagogo Thomas. I was the lawyer to my client who passed away with her husband and their only daughter.
Without wasting your time I am in need of someone to trust in this matter since what is happening in the whole world now have made it difficult for human beings to trust their fellow human being but we can't also do without each other, so I decided to write you believing that you will not disappoint me as soon as this fund hits your account.
The strategy is to use my position as his Attorney to present you as a next of Kin and beneficiary of the time deposit for capitalization to your account and sharing amongst us. I expect your response and shall provide further details.
Regards
Barrister Dagogo Thomas
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Anti-fraud resources:
